Metal fence-post.



A. w. McALISTER.

METAL FENCE POST.

APPLICATION FILED MAYI3, l9l6.

Patented my 28, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WM ALLster' A. W. McAUSTER.

METAL FENCE POST.

APPLICATION FILED mus, l9l6.

Patented May 28,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- gwumdoz A. WM /l hater 7 7 v 5 5 5 m a /6. n 2 /7 hi 51m: "2113 ing a metallic rib in which there are formed To all whom it may concern:

: ears as if i ALBERT 1w. MoALISTER, or MILAN, TENNESSEE.

METAL FENCE-POST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 28, 1918.

Application filed May 13, 1916. Serial No. 97,365.

Be it known that I, ALBERT TV. MoAnrs- TE'R, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Milan, in the county of Gibson and State of, Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improve merits in Metal F ence-Posts, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

I This invention relates to a fence post hava plurality of inwardly extending slots so arranged as to receive the strands of the wire fence, after which the retaining key maybe interposed between the forward portion of the rib and-in front of the strands so as to hold the strands against accidental displacement. r

Another object of this invention is the production of a metal fence post having a plurality of slots, formed in its rib, these slots having offset edges so as to bind upon the wire strands passing therethrough, whereby after :the key has been interposed the binding action -.upon the strands will i hold the samejfrom creeping through the slots in a longitudinal direction.

)Another object of this invention is the production of a metal fence post which is constructed so'as to provide a rib upon the body, the body being formed so as to be positioned within the ground or be carried upon a; plastic body, while the body being provided with slots will receive the wire strands,- after which the key may be positioned'within, the rib for holding the strands against accidental displacement.

' With these and other objects in view, this invention consists of certain novel combinations, constructions, and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed. I

In the accompanying drawings, like characters indicate like views of the several parts, wherein: I

Figure 1 is a side elevation ofthe fence post partly broken away, as constructed in accordance with this invention, showing the strands in transverse section with the key being interposed between the rib.

Fig. 2 isa front elevation of the fence post partly broken away, showing the same in elevation.

Fig.8 is a plan view of the blank from which the-fence post is formed.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the fence post, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, taken through one of the slots, and indicating the manner in which the strands are retained upon the post.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a slightly modified form of the fence post, illustrating how thesame may have its rear portion open.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the device illustrated in Fig. 5, showing how the same may be carried in a plastic body.

Fig. 7 is still another top plan view of the device shown in Fig. 5, illustrating how the same may be carried upon an ordinary wooden post.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of one of the slots, common to all forms, showing how one side edge thereof depends below the other side edge so as to provide a biting edge which will bite into the strandspassing through the slots for holding these strands against longitudinal movement.

-Fig. -9 is a fragmentary front elevation, partly in section, of a portion of the device, illustrating how the depending biting edge of one of the slots digs into the strands for holding the same from slipping through the slot. 1 Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals it will be seen that the entire fence post is formed from a blank, as shown in F ig. 3, which comprises the elongated body 1. This body 1 has'a plurality of curved slots 2 and 3 formed therein, the slots 2 being curved in the opposite directionto the slots 3. It will be noted that the shortest edge 4 of the body communicates with the shortest side of each slot, extending evenly therewith, while the edge 5 of each slot across its longest distance is ofiset so that the distance between the edge 4 and the i edge e is greater at one end than at the other, as illustrated by the dotted line AA in Fig. 3. This construction, therefore, will cause the edge 5 to be provided with deout its entire length, which is larger at its base than at its top. Therefore, when the fence post is positioned in the ground it will be seen that any tendency toward downward movement will be eliminated since downward movement would cause dirt passing within the enlarged lower end of the fence postto become wedged as it moves toward the reduced upper portions thereof and thus limit the downward movement of the post.

As shown in Fig. 5 the rib 8 has the side wings 10 extending therefrom in parallel spaced relation so that when this post is used only a limited amount 01 metal" is necessary to construct each post. It is merely inserted into the ground, while the flaring outwardly of the wings 10 will hold the post from having side movement in any direction. It is, of course, obvious that if so desired, the structure as shown in Fig. 5 mayhave its wings 1.0 embedded in the plastic body 11 which, being positioned in the ground will, of course, assist greatly in holding the me tallic portion of the fence post from having movement, owing to the. strands inserted thereon when in use. It will further be seen that if so desired the wings 10 may be positioned upon a wooden body. or pos't12 simply by passing the spikes 13 through these wings 10 and into the wooden post or body 12.

The ribs 8 and 8, however, have all of their slots formed similarly to each other and, therefore, it'is thought that with the disclosure of Figs. 8 and 9 the operation of the binding engagement will be specifically disclosed. As set forth above the slots 2 and 3 formed in the rib 8 will hold the strands let which constitute the fence so that after the strands 14: have been positioned within the slots 2 and 3 the elongatedkey 15 having the eye 16 upon its upper end may be passed or interposed into or within the forward portions of the rib 8 in front of the strands 14 so that these strands will be held against accidental displacement. It is, of course, obvious that if so desired, the eye 16 may be gripped and pulled so as to more the key 15 from the rib so as to permit any or all of the strands 1a to be removed from the slots ot'the particular post without moving or disarranging the post.

It will be seen that when the strands are positioned within the slots formed in the rib they will engage the depending side edges of the slots. These side edges 6 depend, or in the case of the lower slots, eX- tend inwardly, so as to project for a considerable distance beyond the outwardly curved side 17. Thus, it will be seen that as the key is interposed within the rib it will'force the strands 1% into the inner portions of the slots so that the depending or inwardly extending side 6 of each slot will dig into the strands, as shown in l igs. 8

memes and 9 so that the digging or biting into thereof by the depending or inwardly ex tending side will hold the strands against sliding through the slots. It is, of course, obvious that in a metallic fence posthaving two sides of the slot in a parallel or even plane a comparatively broad bearing surface is presented so that although the, strands may be held upon the ribcby the interposi: tion of the key they will be permitted toslide through the slots in a vertical direction, being held only by the securing means at the ends of the strands. In" this device, however, the wires may be positioned upon one post and then upon being stretched to the next post after the key has been positioned within the rig they will be anchored upon this second post, since they cannot slide t'he depending sides by biting into the strands will hold the same from slipping. Thus, it will be seen that the strands will be stretched between the first and sec ond posts so that the operation may be continned to the third post and so on; If such a means were not provided for holding the strands from slipping or spreading after being positioned upon the rib they would necessarily have to be held in a stretched condition by some secondary means other than the key, after being positioned uporrthe'rib. By this device, however, each strand" after being positioned upon the rib may be stretched and by passing the keyin front thereof it will be driven intothe inner por tions of the slots. so that the depending or inwardly extending sides will bite therethrough and hold. the same in a stretched condition until the removal of the key.

From the foregoing description it'wili be seen that a very-simple and eihcient metal 05 fence post has been provided which'h'as slots formed therein so as to receive" the strands of wire, after which the key may be interposed so as to hold the strands upon the rib. It is further obvious that the rib may be constructed so as to'be formed from a cl sed metal body or upon a body which being open may be carried upon a plastic'or wooden body. Furthermore, it will be seen that the construction of the slots, each of which having one side dependingorextencb ing inwardly beyond the remaining side will constitute a biting edge and, therefore, since the slots are curved the positioning of the key within the rib will drive the strands more easily upon the curved surface into engagement with the depending or inwardly extending sides, which sides by biting into the strands will hold the same from accidental sliding movement or digging" loose from engagement with'th'e post. V

lVhat I claim is:

l. in a device of the class described, the combination of a metallic rib, means for supporting said rib, said rib having slots formed therein, each slot having a pair of spaced edges, each slot having one edge projecting inwardly beyond the remaining edge, thereby forming biting edges, wire strands positioned within said slots, a key positioned within said rib in front of said strands, whereby said key will hold said strands within said slots, and said biting edges biting into said strands for holdin said strands from slipping through sai slots.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a metallic body, said body being bent along its central portion to form a rib, said rib having a plurality of slots formed therein, the edges of said rib communicating with said slot being formed in spaced relation, one of said edges projecting inwardly beyond the remaining edge, thereby forming a biting edge in each slot, wire strands extending through said slots, a key positioned within said rib in front of said strands, thereby forcing said strands upon said biting edges, said biting edges biting into said strands for holding said strands from slipping through said slots, the remaining edges within said slots limiting the biting of said biting edges into said strands.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

ALBERT W. MOALISTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

